Carbon Aluminum Bike Frame

When it comes to the strength to weight ratio few materials can come close to carbon fiber.

Carbon aluminum bike frame.

In many cases bike brands will offer both aluminum and carbon frame options to fit a range of riders budgets. Aluminum is extremely popular for full suspension mountain bikes where its ability. Usually aluminum is mixed with silicon magnesium or zinc to make it stronger and more durable. It s possible to build very light and capable bikes out of either aluminum or carbon.

The most common bicycle frame material aluminum is known for being corrosion resistant fairly light though typically not as light as carbon fiber and having a high strength to weight ratio. Most manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on carbon frames. That begs the obvious question is a 1 5 pound weight saving worth the extra cash. Pure aluminum isn t strong enough to use for bicycle frame building.

The transition smuggler aluminum frame sells for 1999 while the carbon version sells for 2999 a 1000 difference. The aluminum santa cruz bronson frame sells for 1999 while the carbon cc version sells for 3299. Carbon frames are usually a bit lighter than aluminum up to a pound for mountain frames and up to a half pound on road frames. It s worth noting that not all carbon fibre is equal and it s possible that a low grade carbon frame could weigh more than a high end aluminum frame.

Carbon however rules supreme in this area. That s a 1300 difference. Types of aluminum bike frames. The density of modern carbon fiber is about 1 9 g cm 3 compared to aluminum which has a density of about 2 3 g cm 3.

The typical aluminum frame possesses a life expectancy of five to 10 years. Aluminum mountain bike frames weigh around 1 pound more than comparable carbon frames. A carbon fibre frame will almost always be lighter than an aluminium equivalent and you ll only find carbon fibre bikes in the pro peloton in part because of the weight benefits. Carbon fiber frames are lighter than aluminum frames because the material is less dense.

Cannondale caad12 is a famously good aluminium frame aluminium was the leader when it came to frame material before carbon become more accessible. Of the two 6061 is slightly better due to its lower weight. Ride quality is more noticeable on road frames than mountain frames with vibrations being damped by carbon more so than aluminum. 6061 and 7005 are the most common types of aluminum used for bike frames.

Aluminum frames possess the shortest fatigue life of any material used to manufacture bicycle frames. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their aluminum frames but most offer five to 10 years.